Articulating bed

Abstract

An articulated bed comprising: a central platen comprising a headboard end, a footboard end, a first side platen edge and a second side platen edge; a headboard frame pivotally connected to the headboard end of the central platen at a headboard frame pivot point with a central platen headboard bar linkage; a footboard frame pivotally connected to the footboard end of the central platen at a footboard frame pivot point with a central platen footboard bar linkage; a first side platen hinged to the first side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the headboard frame with a first side platen headboard bar linkage and connected to the footboard frame with a first side platen footboard bar linkage; a second side platen hinged to second side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the headboard frame with a second side platen headboard bar linkage and connected to the footboard frame with a second side platen footboard bar linkage; and means for articulating at least one of the central platen headboard bar linkage and the central platen footboard bar linkage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An articulated bed comprising: a central platen comprising a headboard end, a footboard end, a first side platen edge and a second side platen edge;   a headboard frame pivotally connected to the headboard end of the central platen at a headboard frame pivot point with a central platen headboard bar linkage;   a footboard frame pivotally connected to the footboard end of the central platen at a footboard frame pivot point with a central platen footboard bar linkage;   a first side platen hinged to the first side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the headboard frame with a first side platen headboard bar linkage and connected to the footboard frame with a first side platen footboard bar linkage;   a second side platen hinged to second side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the headboard frame with a second side platen headboard bar linkage and connected to the footboard frame with a second side platen footboard bar linkage; and   means for articulating at least one of the central platen headboard bar linkage and the central platen footboard bar linkage.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central platen headboard bar linkage rotates about the headboard frame pivot point in an aligned position adjacent the headboard frame between a first parallel headboard support and a second parallel headboard support. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central platen foot board bar linkage rotates about the footboard frame pivot point in an aligned position adjacent the footboard frame between a first parallel footboard support and a second parallel footboard support. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first side platen is continuously hinged to the first side platen edge of the central platen with a continuous polymeric hinge and the second side platen is continuously hinged to the second side platen edge of the central platen with a continuous polymeric hinge. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a programmable microprocessor based controller. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said programmable microprocessor based controller controls said apparatus based on a set of variables, said set of variable comprising: a left dwell period of time during which the apparatus remains at a left angle position,   a center dwell period of time during which the apparatus remains at a center position,   a right dwell period of time during which the apparatus remains at a right angle position,   a left angle which determines the left angle position,   a right angle which determines the right angle position, and speed.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a separate power supply comprising: a weatherproof box;   a 12 volt sealed lead acid battery;   a 12 volt, 1 amp, smart charger;   a 15 amp circuit breaker; and   an on/off switch.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus comprising: a central platen comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first side platen edge and a second side platen edge;   a first frame pivotally connected to the proximal end of the central platen with a central platen proximal bar linkage;   a second frame pivotally connected to the distal end of the central platen with a central platen distal bar linkage;   a first side platen hinged to the first side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the first frame with a first side platen proximal bar linkage and connected to the second frame with a first side platen distal bar linkage;   a second side platen hinged to the second side platen edge of the central platen, connected to the proximal frame with a second side platen proximal bar linkage and connected to the second frame with a second side platen distal bar linkage; and   means for articulating at least one of the central platen proximal bar linkage and the central platen distal bar linkage.